A drug den was dismantled and three people were arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by joint operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 7 (PDEA 7) Cebu Provincial Office and the Talisay City Police Station at Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Linao, Talisay City, Cebu, at around 9:40 p.m. on Friday.

PDEA 7 Regional Director Joel B. Plaza identified the drug den maintainer as alias McLin, 56, a construction worker, resident of Barangay Linao and a plea bargainer.

Also arrested were two alleged drug den visitors identified as alias Ben, 34, unemployed, and alias Mark, 37, a construction worker. Both are residents of Barangay Linao.

Operatives confiscated five packs of suspected shabu weighing about 11.12 grams, with an estimated street value of P75,616, along with the buy-bust money and various drug paraphernalia.

The suspects are detained at the PDEA 7 office in Lahug, Cebu City, while the seized drug evidence was submitted to the PDEA 7 Regional Office Laboratory for examination and proper disposition.

Under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, maintaining a drug den carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to P10 million. Visiting a drug den carries a penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to P500,000.